Mark-ups make me MAD!

Okay, so I usually don't vent about these kinds of topics on here...but...I hate how much people mark up their services!!!  Because we are going to cutting our income in May, I have been shopping around for TV and Internet services.  We were hoping to not have to get rid of either of them completely, but realized that at the rate we were paying, that may be a possibility.  So - I called Direct TV and although they advertise a great rate, you get roped into 6 months of a total rip-off rate after the advertised rate is up!  So...we'll stay with Dish.  I also called Century Tel (who we have our internet through) to see what we could do about that.  When it seemed that all was hopeless, I asked to be transfered to the department where you cancel your services.  When I got to them I had a very short conversation with the woman about how money was just tight and we could no longer afford to pay for a phone that we never used (land line), or the outrageous price we were paying for internet.  She immediately offered me a deal.  I asked about the contract, and again, it extended past the time that the deal was offered for.  I told her it was a no-go and she shortened the contract for the "deal" time.  Amazing.  So...now we are paying literally 1/2 what we were paying for internet to begin with and no phone line.  I can't believe that with that little prodding we could've been paying this for the last year!!!  So now...I'm thinking I'll try the same "trick" with Dish and see what they say.  Why do they feel the need to mark things up so much that people stress out and get to the point where they decide they can't afford them anymore?!  

Frustrating to say the least....but I sure am glad we're getting to keep both TV and Internet!  :0)